1914
Sarah
2015
Sarah C. (Warner) Handy
September 15, 1914 — November 7, 2015
Sarah C. (Warner) Handy, 101 of Cambridge, passed away on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center. She was born in Shelton, Connecticut on September 15, 1914, daughter of the late Harry H. Warner and Sarah E. (Clark) Warner.
After graduating from Classical High School in Worcester in 1932, she worked in City Treasurers office in the tax department for several years. She was married to her late husband in 1933, Ernest A. Handy at All Saints Episcopal Church. She was a member of the Health and Educational Committee of the Y.W.C.A. and a volunteer at Fairlawn Hospital and the U.S.O. during World War II. She was also a leader of a Girl Scout Troop in St. Luke’s Church in Worcester for 10 years. Because it was difficult to find leaders during the war, they were given permission to increase the memberships from 28 to 50, making it the largest troop in the city.
Sarah moved to Holden in 1948, and operated Handy Greenhouses for 45 years, specializing in African Violets. She won many top awards and medals at the Boston Spring Flower Shows of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the Worcester County Horticultural Society, where she was also a life member. She lectured frequently on African Violets and house plants at garden clubs and churches throughout Central New England. She wrote articles for the National African Violet Society magazine and a column for Holden Landmarks entitled “Down To Earth”. She was quite often referred to as “The Violet Lady”. She was a salesperson for Hobby Greenhouses in Worcester County area for National Greenhouses Company of Pana, Illinois from 1972 to 1992. She was a Fire Insurance Inspector for Liege Associates Inc. of Brighton, Mass for 12 years. She was a life member of Holden Grange and Worcester Pamona Grange and awarded her 50 year membership in Grange in 2005.
After closing the greenhouses, she drove school bus in Holden for Special Ed. Children and worked part time at Bigelow Nurseries in Northboro, and Derby Florist and Edith’s Flowers in Holden. She was a Past Matron of Wachusett Chapter of Ohio Eastern Star in Holden, and Deputy Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter of Mass in 1967. She was a Royal Matron of Bancoft Court of Worcester, Order of the Amaranth and Grand Royal Matron of the State in that organization in 1974. She sang in the choir of Holden Congregational church for 26 years and was involved in many church committees there.
She leaves a daughter, Martha (Cal) Rice of Cambridge; three grandchildren, Amy (Cliff) Brown and their son Sean; Barry (Jennifer Beers) Davis and Adam (Cassandra) Davis; and a cousin Russell (Joyce) Watrous of Conn.
Relatives and friends are invited to gather at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden at 12 noon followed by a procession to Grove Cemetery, 1196 Main Street, Holden for a 1:00pm graveside service.
After graduating from Classical High School in Worcester in 1932, she worked in City Treasurers office in the tax department for several years. She was married to her late husband in 1933, Ernest A. Handy at All Saints Episcopal Church. She was a member of the Health and Educational Committee of the Y.W.C.A. and a volunteer at Fairlawn Hospital and the U.S.O. during World War II. She was also a leader of a Girl Scout Troop in St. Luke’s Church in Worcester for 10 years. Because it was difficult to find leaders during the war, they were given permission to increase the memberships from 28 to 50, making it the largest troop in the city.
Sarah moved to Holden in 1948, and operated Handy Greenhouses for 45 years, specializing in African Violets. She won many top awards and medals at the Boston Spring Flower Shows of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the Worcester County Horticultural Society, where she was also a life member. She lectured frequently on African Violets and house plants at garden clubs and churches throughout Central New England. She wrote articles for the National African Violet Society magazine and a column for Holden Landmarks entitled “Down To Earth”. She was quite often referred to as “The Violet Lady”. She was a salesperson for Hobby Greenhouses in Worcester County area for National Greenhouses Company of Pana, Illinois from 1972 to 1992. She was a Fire Insurance Inspector for Liege Associates Inc. of Brighton, Mass for 12 years. She was a life member of Holden Grange and Worcester Pamona Grange and awarded her 50 year membership in Grange in 2005.
After closing the greenhouses, she drove school bus in Holden for Special Ed. Children and worked part time at Bigelow Nurseries in Northboro, and Derby Florist and Edith’s Flowers in Holden. She was a Past Matron of Wachusett Chapter of Ohio Eastern Star in Holden, and Deputy Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter of Mass in 1967. She was a Royal Matron of Bancoft Court of Worcester, Order of the Amaranth and Grand Royal Matron of the State in that organization in 1974. She sang in the choir of Holden Congregational church for 26 years and was involved in many church committees there.
She leaves a daughter, Martha (Cal) Rice of Cambridge; three grandchildren, Amy (Cliff) Brown and their son Sean; Barry (Jennifer Beers) Davis and Adam (Cassandra) Davis; and a cousin Russell (Joyce) Watrous of Conn.
Relatives and friends are invited to gather at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden at 12 noon followed by a procession to Grove Cemetery, 1196 Main Street, Holden for a 1:00pm graveside service.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sarah C. (Warner) Handy, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 0
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors